[Neutron] LANSCE User Program Headlines - May 2012

[Fernandez, Elena]

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LANSCE User Program Headlines
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LANSCE Neutron Scattering School on Soft Matter
Neutron Techniques in Basic and Applied Science
lansce.lanl.gov/neutronschool

12-21 September 2012
Lujan Neutron Scattering Center, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos New Mexico
The 2012 Lujan Neutron Scattering School will cover applications of neutron scattering techniques in basic and applied soft matter research with a focus on applications to energy, medical and materials science. The school will include a special track on neutron crystallography for structural enzymology. Selected participants will receive travel and local support. Visit lansce.lanl.gov/neutronschool<http://lansce.lanl.gov/neutronschool> for school details support details and to apply.
Intended Audience:
The Neutron Scattering School on Soft Matter is intended primarily for Ph.D. graduate students in the physical, chemical or biological sciences or postdoctoral researchers desiring an introduction to neutron scattering techniques in soft condensed matter or structural enzymology. Students should have had a basic introduction in scattering or diffraction through an appropriate course in physics, physical chemistry or biophysical chemistry.
Overview:
Topics:
The school will cover:
·         The basic concepts of neutron production, scattering methods and instrumentation.
·         Introduction to soft matter with emphasis on areas of basic and applied research in energy, medical and materials topics where neutrons can and do make fundamental contributions.
·         The concepts behind neutron instrumentation and experimental approaches to address issues in soft matter.
·         The use of deuteration in soft matter neutron scattering.
·         Detailed case studies in soft matter research using small-angle neutron scattering, neutron reflectometry, chemical neutron spectroscopy, diffraction and radiography.
·         Technical aspects of measurement techniques and data analysis.
·         Computational techniques that complement and aid in the planning, analysis and interpretation of neutron measurements.
·         An open session for discussion and/or a lecture of an additional topic selected by the students.
·         Additional topics, outlined below, in protein crystallography techniques will be covered in the special track on structural enzymology.
Practicals for the Course in Soft Matter:
The lectures will be complemented by hands-on exercises, applying concepts to specific problems, using Lujan Center instrumentation. Students in the soft matter school will chose among exercises using:
·         Small-angle neutron scattering: LQD.
·         Neutron reflectometry: SPEAR.
·         Chemical Neutron Spectroscopy: FDS.
·         Diffraction: SMARTS.
·         Radiographic imaging.
·         Local structure and pair distribution functions: NPDF & HIPD.

Students will make presentations on their findings on the final day of the school.
Special track for protein crystallography using joint neutron and X-ray diffraction for structural enzymology:
Requirements:
Students should have a general knowledge of protein crystallography and a strong biochemistry background. The special track is intended for PhD students and early career postdocs interested in using neutrons to better understand enzyme structure and mechanism.
Overview:
The Protein Crystallography Station is a high-performance beamline that enables many areas of research in structural biology. Joint neutron and X-ray crystallography can give high resolution information about hydration and dynamics of protein structure, protonation of key active site amino acid residues (charged vs. neutral), nature and orientation of hydrogen bond of water molecular (water networks, distinguishing between OH- or H+ or even H3O+), interaction and binding mode of drugs/inhibitors, substrates, or transition state intermediates for drug design or enzyme engineering.
In the special track students will learn about:
·         protein expression and partial vs. full perdeuteration
·         practical methods for large crystal growth
·         proper sample mounting and vapor H/D exchange
·         data collection and Laue time-of-flight data processing (Ntrek; Lauenorm)
·         Preparing PDB and data files for joint neutron and X-ray structure refinement
Scientific Topics & Applications
·         Structural enzymology: understanding how enzymes work
·         Biofuels (both cellulosic ethanol and algal oil)
·         Structure-based drug design and how neutrons provide unique information
·         Quantum enzymology: quantum chemical calculations using explicit H atom positions from neutron experiments (predicting reaction trajectories)
To Apply:
Apply on the web at lansce.lanl.gov/neutronschool.  Application materials include:

  *   A statement by the applicant of anticipated benefits of the neutron scattering school to the individual research program.
  *   Two letters of reference that must be submitted directly to the school by e-mail or hard copy.
Important dates:

  *   15 June: deadline for all application materials.
  *   25 June: notifications to applicants.
  *   2 July: confirmation of attendance by successful applicants. Deadline for foreign national students to submit required documentation.


--
E. Fernández
Senior Public Information Specialist | External Affairs
Los Alamos Neutron Science Center | New Mexico State University, Department of Physics
elena at lanl.gov<mailto:elena at lanl.gov> | abraxcat at nmsu.edu<mailto:abraxcat at nmsu.edu> | 505.665.0541 | lansce.lanl.gov<http://lansce.lanl.gov>
"It is not fair to ask of others what you are unwilling to do yourself." - Eleanor Roosevelt

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